MovieChat Forums > Léon (1994) Discussion > Portman was only 13?

Portman was only 13?


When the film was made Natalie Portman was only 13 years old. Considering the content of the film with all the violence she was exposed to it's a wonder she was able to make it through the film. Yes, I know it was just a film, but it must have been an emotional toll on her at such a young age. Amazing acting, but did her parents really agree to this? Makes me wonder about them!

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From interviews that I have read over the years, Natalie was 11 yrs old when cast and turned 12 during filming. From those same interviews her Mother was with her on set while filming and there were specialists hired to council her regarding adult themes. Besson had to rewrite part of the script to meet with her parents approval, and he remarked that working with Natalie at first was very difficult. He stated that her attention span was very short as she would become bored and want to go play. He also stated that Natalie’s best interest was priority from day one and everything was explained to her in great detail before a scene was filmed. Natalie said that her parents were very protective of her and at first they wouldn’t allow her to take part in the film, but later gave in to her persistence.

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If the parents had a problem with her being in the film why would they have taken her to the audition to begin with? Sorry but when she says something like that it doesn't pass the smell test. I don't think any 11 year olds were ever out there going to casting calls on their own. If the parent had any issues they only had to pass on taking her to the audition.

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And do you think the full script was sent directly to the kid? Hardly, the parents would have gotten it and could have easily simply told Portman she didn't get the part if they thought the script was so bad. Her story is bullshit, but then that's the norm for actors and actresses to make shit up to create the image they think is best for them whether it is close to the truth or 180 degrees from it.

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"He stated that her attention span was very short as she would become bored and want to go play."

This always seemed like BS to me. She was 12, not 6, and obviously Portman is of above aveage intelligence.

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"He stated that her attention span was very short as she would become bored and want to go play."

This always seemed like BS to me. She was 12, not 6, and obviously Portman is of above aveage intelligence.


Yeah this is clearly nonsense and describes a 5 year old. She may have gotten bored to a degree, but not the way it's being infantilized here. This is the sort of thing they say to create a false context or overly diminish one person to elevate themselves. I won't deny that a 12 yo would get bored while filming a movie, of course. Adults do as well. But she was not running off to play with my little pony dolls and sucking her thumb, as the comment tries to paint it. I hate that type of anecdote. Give her the respect she deserves for having been an integral part of a complex and well done film.

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me too

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Are you serious?

She was born in a country which has been at war.

Film violence is fake and young age people that do star in them it is not like the adults they have a lot of support also limited hours.

Guardian has to sign off on it.

She starred in Heat not even a year later her character attempted to kill herself.

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It's fake, because it's a movie. She's fine.

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